“Unlike Catherine’s Nan, Grandma Rourke proved mortal. But when Catherine plays Nan, I hear my own Gran who, towards the end of her life, discovered the word 'arsehole', and used it remorselessly.

(Credit: BBC)

“Gran refused any food that wasn’t jam sandwiches, and only ever played cards for money. She won back off me the first pocket money she ever gave me.

“I have loved working with Catherine over the years on stage, and it is a massive treat to put her Nan on film. Here's to her Nan, my Nan, all our Nans. Let's reclaim outrage from loathsome politicians and put it back where it belongs: with our Nans.”

Catherine Tate (Credit: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

The foul-mouthed pensioner was among the first characters to emerge in Tate's The Catherine Tate Show, back in 2004.

She was a staple during all three series of the sketch show, before becoming the star of her own spin-off episode in 2009, which spawned a comeback in 2014, and a two-part Christmas special in 2015.

The IT Crowd's Katherine Parkinson will also star, though there's no release date as yet confirmed.